http://www.huntingreport.com/c...ion_force.cfm?id=377



Release of IUCN Red List
Written By John J. Jackson III, Conservation Force Chairman & President
(posted August 2015)

By John J. Jackson, III


One June 23, 2015 the IUCN released its Red List update (www.iucnredlist.org/news/conservation-successes-overshadowed-by-more-species-declines-iucn-red-list-update). There were no surprises for the hunting community in the Red Listings. In fact, despite all the airline embargoes, new EU regulations and USFWS listings and suspensions, no game animal of consequence declined in listing status. Like in the USA, game animals as a class are faring better than so many other species. There must be something to that.

One game animal was downlisted from Endangered to Near Threatened, moving two levels on the IUCN ranking system. That is the markhor (Capra falconeri), which has been featured in the World Conservation Force Bulletin since its first publication. Notably, the authors advise that, "Stable and increasing subpopulations [of markhor] are restricted to areas with sustainable hunting management areas and protected areas. Were these conservation activities to cease in the future, poaching would likely increase..." The population declines had ceased with the institution of hunting programs. It is maybe important to note that the regulated hunting was begun in populations in historical decline. The hunting was the force or medicine or cure for the chronic poaching, loss of habitat and decline. It also funded the operating budget. Conservation Force's founding Board Member Bart O'Gara, Ph.D. is duly credited with starting the science-advised, hunting-based conservation hunting program. He worked for the USFWS but no one told him it was unsustainable because the population was in decline. Hunting was instituted as the solution and the net benefits made it sustainable and more.

The black rhino in Namibia (Diceros bicornis ssp. bicornis - common name southwestern black rhino) is confirmation of the potential of hunting as a force for conservation. Despite the antis alleging it is "critically endangered" in the two suits they have filed, the IUCN has ranked it as Vulnerable since 2000. That status continues, but was close to being downlisted to Near Threatened. Its population continues to increase as it has for more than three generations.

All other black rhino subspecies remain Critically Endangered as they have been since 1996. That said, since a low in 1995, the population has been increasing and continues to increase because of the conservation strategies of RSA, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It is of interest to note that "[t]o maintain rapid population growth rates and prevent potential habitat damage if the population overshoots carrying capacity, populations of black rhino should be managed at densities below long-term ecological carrying capacity (i.e. below zero growth rate.)"

The white rhino that you read so much about remains Near Threatened where it has been since 2002. The reason it is not listed below that to Least Concern is the increased poaching and all that is driving that poaching. In the absence of all the conservation measures, it potentially could decrease in numbers to Vulnerable in five years. Once again, the majority exist in RSA, Namibia and Zimbabwe. "If current trends (poaching) continue, numbers in South Africa could start to decline by 2016. In southern Africa, live sale of white rhino on auction (and limited sport hunting of surplus males) has also created incentives for private sector conservation and generated much needed funds which can help pay the high cost of successfully monitoring, protecting and managing rhino." Of note, numbers have tripled since white rhino were downlisted to Appendix II for live export and for continued export of hunting trophies. So much for claims that regulated hunting stimulates poaching.

The mountain lion/puma remains of Least Concern. It had been downlisted from Near Threatened to Least Concern in 2008. It does not get any better than that.
Cheetah remain Near Threatened.
Leopard remain Near Threatened.
African elephant remain Vulnerable.

The brown and grizzly bear of North America and Mexico are also continued as being of Least Concern, the lowest level of concern. The bear is in overall decline, but its Red List level is as low as it gets and it is huntable despite that decline. There are 200,000 worldwide, half of which are in Russia where they exceed 100,000. There are 33,000 in the USA, 25,000 in Canada and 14,000 in Europe. Though some hunting is unsustainable because "many countries do not have the resources to develop, implement, or enforce adequate monitoring programs and sustainable management plans," it remains of Least Concern because it is not of survival-level impact.

Black bear remains of Least Concern, where it has been since 2008. Its global population is "more than twice that of all other species of bear combined." "Moreover, in most areas populations are expanding numerically and geographically." In North America the total number is 850,000 - 950,000. The sport harvest in Canada and the US take 40,000 - 50,000 annually. The Louisiana black bear is ESA listed as threatened, but there is a pending USFWS proposal to remove it from the ESA as recovered.

Polar bear continues to be ranked as Vulnerable. It has been Vulnerable since 2006. It is interesting that the IUCN SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group recommended the listing because of potential decline of 30% within three generations (45 years) due to expected decline of habitat quality and occurrence, yet they state that "no direct relationship exists between these measures (loss of habitat and quality and quantity)" and the abundance of polar bear. Population level at time of assessment remains 20,000 to 25,000 bears. The overall population trend is "decreasing," although Conservation Force questions this assertion.

Mountain nyala in Ethiopia are not doing so well. They have been listed as Endangered since 1996 and remain at that listing. They are decreasing. The authors conclude, "It is likely that only 1,500 to 2,000 mountain nyalas survive throughout the range" but admit that "a recent survey has indicated the total population may be higher, perhaps up to 4,000." There is obviously a scientific dispute going on within parties in Ethiopia.

The cheetah remains Vulnerable where it has been since 1996. Its population is described as being in decline but recent overall decline is not identified.

The hippopotamus is described as Vulnerable, as it has been rated since 1996. Of interest, Mozambique is cited as one of its "conservation stronghold(s)," yet the CITES significant trade review process and Mozambique's lack of capacity to respond to it continues to hamper import of those hippopotamus trophies.

Cape buffalo are of Least Concern, as they have been since 2008. The global estimate is over 900,000 animals. Protected areas, which include gazetted hunting areas, hold most of the population.

Argali are rated as Near Threatened. It was downlisted from Vulnerable in 2008 and there it remains. Its overall population is in "significant decline"..."making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable."

The African lion remains as Vulnerable where it has been since 1996. The authors make a point of stating it is near Endangered.

Written By John J. Jackson III, Conservation Force Chairman & President
(posted August 2015)

By John J. Jackson, III


One June 23, 2015 the IUCN released its Red List update (www.iucnredlist.org/news/conservation-successes-overshadowed-by-more-species-declines-iucn-red-list-update). There were no surprises for the hunting community in the Red Listings. In fact, despite all the airline embargoes, new EU regulations and USFWS listings and suspensions, no game animal of consequence declined in listing status. Like in the USA, game animals as a class are faring better than so many other species. There must be something to that.

One game animal was downlisted from Endangered to Near Threatened, moving two levels on the IUCN ranking system. That is the markhor (Capra falconeri), which has been featured in the World Conservation Force Bulletin since its first publication. Notably, the authors advise that, "Stable and increasing subpopulations [of markhor] are restricted to areas with sustainable hunting management areas and protected areas. Were these conservation activities to cease in the future, poaching would likely increase..." The population declines had ceased with the institution of hunting programs. It is maybe important to note that the regulated hunting was begun in populations in historical decline. The hunting was the force or medicine or cure for the chronic poaching, loss of habitat and decline. It also funded the operating budget. Conservation Force's founding Board Member Bart O'Gara, Ph.D. is duly credited with starting the science-advised, hunting-based conservation hunting program. He worked for the USFWS but no one told him it was unsustainable because the population was in decline. Hunting was instituted as the solution and the net benefits made it sustainable and more.

The black rhino in Namibia (Diceros bicornis ssp. bicornis - common name southwestern black rhino) is confirmation of the potential of hunting as a force for conservation. Despite the antis alleging it is "critically endangered" in the two suits they have filed, the IUCN has ranked it as Vulnerable since 2000. That status continues, but was close to being downlisted to Near Threatened. Its population continues to increase as it has for more than three generations.

All other black rhino subspecies remain Critically Endangered as they have been since 1996. That said, since a low in 1995, the population has been increasing and continues to increase because of the conservation strategies of RSA, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It is of interest to note that "[t]o maintain rapid population growth rates and prevent potential habitat damage if the population overshoots carrying capacity, populations of black rhino should be managed at densities below long-term ecological carrying capacity (i.e. below zero growth rate.)"

The white rhino that you read so much about remains Near Threatened where it has been since 2002. The reason it is not listed below that to Least Concern is the increased poaching and all that is driving that poaching. In the absence of all the conservation measures, it potentially could decrease in numbers to Vulnerable in five years. Once again, the majority exist in RSA, Namibia and Zimbabwe. "If current trends (poaching) continue, numbers in South Africa could start to decline by 2016. In southern Africa, live sale of white rhino on auction (and limited sport hunting of surplus males) has also created incentives for private sector conservation and generated much needed funds which can help pay the high cost of successfully monitoring, protecting and managing rhino." Of note, numbers have tripled since white rhino were downlisted to Appendix II for live export and for continued export of hunting trophies. So much for claims that regulated hunting stimulates poaching.

The mountain lion/puma remains of Least Concern. It had been downlisted from Near Threatened to Least Concern in 2008. It does not get any better than that.
Cheetah remain Near Threatened.
Leopard remain Near Threatened.
African elephant remain Vulnerable.

The brown and grizzly bear of North America and Mexico are also continued as being of Least Concern, the lowest level of concern. The bear is in overall decline, but its Red List level is as low as it gets and it is huntable despite that decline. There are 200,000 worldwide, half of which are in Russia where they exceed 100,000. There are 33,000 in the USA, 25,000 in Canada and 14,000 in Europe. Though some hunting is unsustainable because "many countries do not have the resources to develop, implement, or enforce adequate monitoring programs and sustainable management plans," it remains of Least Concern because it is not of survival-level impact.

Black bear remains of Least Concern, where it has been since 2008. Its global population is "more than twice that of all other species of bear combined." "Moreover, in most areas populations are expanding numerically and geographically." In North America the total number is 850,000 - 950,000. The sport harvest in Canada and the US take 40,000 - 50,000 annually. The Louisiana black bear is ESA listed as threatened, but there is a pending USFWS proposal to remove it from the ESA as recovered.

Polar bear continues to be ranked as Vulnerable. It has been Vulnerable since 2006. It is interesting that the IUCN SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group recommended the listing because of potential decline of 30% within three generations (45 years) due to expected decline of habitat quality and occurrence, yet they state that "no direct relationship exists between these measures (loss of habitat and quality and quantity)" and the abundance of polar bear. Population level at time of assessment remains 20,000 to 25,000 bears. The overall population trend is "decreasing," although Conservation Force questions this assertion.

Mountain nyala in Ethiopia are not doing so well. They have been listed as Endangered since 1996 and remain at that listing. They are decreasing. The authors conclude, "It is likely that only 1,500 to 2,000 mountain nyalas survive throughout the range" but admit that "a recent survey has indicated the total population may be higher, perhaps up to 4,000." There is obviously a scientific dispute going on within parties in Ethiopia.

The cheetah remains Vulnerable where it has been since 1996. Its population is described as being in decline but recent overall decline is not identified.

The hippopotamus is described as Vulnerable, as it has been rated since 1996. Of interest, Mozambique is cited as one of its "conservation stronghold(s)," yet the CITES significant trade review process and Mozambique's lack of capacity to respond to it continues to hamper import of those hippopotamus trophies.

Cape buffalo are of Least Concern, as they have been since 2008. The global estimate is over 900,000 animals. Protected areas, which include gazetted hunting areas, hold most of the population.

Argali are rated as Near Threatened. It was downlisted from Vulnerable in 2008 and there it remains. Its overall population is in "significant decline"..."making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable."

The African lion remains as Vulnerable where it has been since 1996. The authors make a point of stating it is near Endangered.